By Luc Cohen
NEW YORK (Reuters) – The jury that convicted Robert Menendez of corruption was allowed to evaluation improper proof throughout deliberations, however the error doesn’t justify overturning the previous New Jersey senator’s conviction, U.S. prosecutors stated on Wednesday.
Menendez, 70, resigned from the U.S. Senate in August after a jury in Manhattan federal court docket discovered him responsible of promoting his energy in alternate for lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} in bribes together with gold bars and money. The once-influential Democrat pleaded not responsible and has vowed to enchantment.
In a court docket submitting, the U.S. Legal professional’s workplace in Manhattan stated 9 items of proof jurors used whereas deliberating displayed materials that ought to have been redacted. The prosecutors stated protection attorneys didn’t discover the error both, and that the fabric seemingly didn’t influence the decision.
“No motion want be taken in mild of the error,” the prosecutors wrote in a letter to U.S. District Decide Sidney Stein. “The proof of guilt on this case was overwhelming.”
Menendez’s attorneys didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
The previous senator was convicted on all 16 counts he confronted, which included illegally appearing as an agent of the Egyptian authorities, obstruction of justice, wire fraud and extortion. Jurors wanted three days to succeed in a verdict, after a nine-week trial.
Menendez represented New Jersey and served because the chair of the Senate’s international relations committee. He’s scheduled to be sentenced on Jan. 25, and will face many years behind bars.
New Jersey voters elected Democrat Andy Kim final week to develop into the state’s junior senator.
